Press Release-IV-05-007, NRC to Hold Predecisional Enforcement Conference with Arizona Public Service Co. for Palo Verde

Press Release-IV-05-007: NRC to Hold Predecisional Enforcement Conference with Arizona Public Service Co. for Palo Verde

ML050420011
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	02/11/2005
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region IV
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-IV-05-007
Download: ML050420011 (1)

Text

NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Region IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive - Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-4005 No. IV-05-007 February 11, 2005

Contact:

Victor Dricks E-Mail: opa4@nrc.gov Phone: 817-860-8128 NRC TO HOLD PREDECISIONAL ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE WITH ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE CO. FOR PALO VERDE Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials will hold a predecisional enforcement conference with representatives of Arizona Public Service Co. on Thursday, Feb 17, to discuss two apparent violations of NRC requirements at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station.

APS operates the facility, located near Wintersburg, Ariz.

The enforcement conference will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the NRCs Region IV office in Arlington, Tex. The public is invited to observe the meeting and will have one or more opportunities to communicate with the NRC after the business portion, but before the meeting is adjourned. Certain portions of the meeting may be closed to the public if proprietary information is discussed. Persons interested in participating in the conference via telephone can do so by calling (800) 952-9677 and asking to be transferred to the meeting.

NRC conducted a special inspection last summer after operators at Palo Verde discovered air trapped in a section of piping that could interfere with the performance of pumps needed to supply water for emergency core cooling and containment spray during some accident conditions.

APS officials corrected the problem when it was brought to their attention, but the NRC has identified two related apparent violations of potential safety significance that we want to discuss with them, said NRC Region IV Administrator Bruce S. Mallett.

The conference is an opportunity for APS to provide its perspective on the apparent violations and to offer any other information that they believe the NRC should take into consideration in making an enforcement decision. No decision on the apparent violations or any enforcement action will be made at the conference. Those decisions will be made later by NRC officials.